He was a good master and
cherished
his dependents.
Kipling - Poems
How the dickens did the man get the wrong side of
the ceiling-cloth? "
There was a heavy coughing outside Strickland's bedroom door. This
showed that Bahadur Khan, his body-servant, had waked from sleep and
wished to put Strickland to bed.
"Come in," said Strickland. "It is a very warm night, isn't it? "
Bahadur Khan, a great, green-turbaned, six-foot Mohammedan, said that it
was a very warm night, but that there was more rain pending, which, by
his honor's favor, would bring relief to the country.
"It will be so, if God pleases," said Strickland, tugging off his hoots.
"It is in my mind, Bahadur Khan, that I have worked thee remorselessly
for many days--ever since that time when thou first came into my
service. What time was that? "
"Has the heaven-born forgotten? It was when Imray Sahib went secretly
to Europe without warning given, and I--even I--came into the honored
service of the protector of the poor. "
"And Imray Sahib went to Europe? "
"It is so said among the servants. "
"And thou wilt take service with him when he returns? "
"Assuredly, sahib.
He was a good master and cherished his dependents. "
"That is true. I am very tired, but I can go buck-shooting tomorrow.
Give me the little rifle that I use for black buck; it is in the case
yonder. "
The man stooped over the case, banded barrels, stock, and fore-end to
Strickland, who fitted them together. Yawning dolefully, then he reached
down to the gun-case, took a solid drawn cartridge, and slipped it into
the breech of the . 360 express.
"And Imray Sahib has gone to Europe secretly? That is very strange,
Bahadur Khan, is it not? "
"What do I know of the ways of the white man, heaven-born? "
"Very little, truly. But thou shalt know more. It has reached me that
Imray Sahib has returned from his so long journeyings, and that even now
he lies in the next room, waiting his servant. "
"Sahib! "
The lamp-light slid along the barrels of the rifle as they leveled
themselves against Bahadur Khan's broad breast.
"Go, then, and look!
the ceiling-cloth? "
There was a heavy coughing outside Strickland's bedroom door. This
showed that Bahadur Khan, his body-servant, had waked from sleep and
wished to put Strickland to bed.
"Come in," said Strickland. "It is a very warm night, isn't it? "
Bahadur Khan, a great, green-turbaned, six-foot Mohammedan, said that it
was a very warm night, but that there was more rain pending, which, by
his honor's favor, would bring relief to the country.
"It will be so, if God pleases," said Strickland, tugging off his hoots.
"It is in my mind, Bahadur Khan, that I have worked thee remorselessly
for many days--ever since that time when thou first came into my
service. What time was that? "
"Has the heaven-born forgotten? It was when Imray Sahib went secretly
to Europe without warning given, and I--even I--came into the honored
service of the protector of the poor. "
"And Imray Sahib went to Europe? "
"It is so said among the servants. "
"And thou wilt take service with him when he returns? "
"Assuredly, sahib.
He was a good master and cherished his dependents. "
"That is true. I am very tired, but I can go buck-shooting tomorrow.
Give me the little rifle that I use for black buck; it is in the case
yonder. "
The man stooped over the case, banded barrels, stock, and fore-end to
Strickland, who fitted them together. Yawning dolefully, then he reached
down to the gun-case, took a solid drawn cartridge, and slipped it into
the breech of the . 360 express.
"And Imray Sahib has gone to Europe secretly? That is very strange,
Bahadur Khan, is it not? "
"What do I know of the ways of the white man, heaven-born? "
"Very little, truly. But thou shalt know more. It has reached me that
Imray Sahib has returned from his so long journeyings, and that even now
he lies in the next room, waiting his servant. "
"Sahib! "
The lamp-light slid along the barrels of the rifle as they leveled
themselves against Bahadur Khan's broad breast.
"Go, then, and look!
